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TML Staff Roundtable: 2020 Orlando City Postseason Thoughts

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The 2020 season is all but over, with only MLS Cup to come. Orlando City got a lot closer to this weekend’s game than anyone expected at the start of the year, but came up a bit short.

With the season now in the rearview mirror, I reached out to the full staff of The Mane Land to find out what we’re all thinking ahead of the Lions’ sixth season in MLS. Not everyone responded but those who did are represented below in full. Since I usually cherry pick the best answers, this will be longer than the usual roundtable piece.


At the beginning of the season our staff was split between those who thought Orlando City would barely make the playoffs and those who thought the team would finish just below the playoff places. How surprised were you at how quickly Oscar Pareja was able to get complete buy-in from a team that brought a lot of pieces back?

David Rohe:  As one of those who thought the Lions would just make it in over the playoff line, I was definitely surprised how far above the line the club was. I don’t believe anyone thought Pareja would be able to turn things around as quickly as he did, for exactly the reasons posed in the question. To bring as many players back and to then have such a night and day difference in not only results, but also in the positive attitude that this club has was nothing short of astonishing. To then deal with COVID-19, the loss of Dom Dwyer to injury, numerous other injuries, and PRO referees, is a testament to the job that Pareja did this season. 

Sean Rollins: I was very surprised at the team’s improvement, though they had help. The fact that the MLS is Back Tournament was near home was helpful and they got to play home games in front of fans. Next year will be the true test to see if the team is in the right path.

Christopher Adams: Last season was rough, but I had a feeling that this team was better than its record indicated. Several players looked good, including Robin Jansson, Ruan, and Nani, and there were moments that led me to believe this team could be much better in 2020. So I’m not surprised that this team was a playoff contender, I am a little surprised just how much things changed with Pareja. There’s a whole different culture, a different feel to Orlando than ever before, and on the field they played their best soccer ever at points. When they were healthy and in a rhythm, especially during the MLS Is Back Tournament, this team wasn’t just successful but they looked every part an elite, championship-caliber team. I knew this team could compete, but I didn’t know they could compete at this level. 

Ben Miller: I wasn’t necessarily surprised with the speed with which Pareja got everyone to buy in, but I definitely was surprised at just how good the team was once everyone was bought in and the team was playing at full strength. I credit a lot of that to Pareja’s system and the players’ belief in it. I thought the team would be improved but not to the extent that it was, and that’s what surprised me the most.

Daniel Finton: It was incredible to see just how quickly Pareja was able to transform the side, I was extremely surprised. After the first two matches resulted in a 0-0 stalemate to Real Salt Lake at home and a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids away, it seemed like more of the same hardships were set to persist. However, the Lions have obviously been galvanized by his appointment and Pareja looks an absolute coup. 

Guilherme Torres: Pareja did a great job this year. His contribution to the success of the team was arguably greater than any player on the roster. The most important thing the coach did was establishing a clear way for the team to play, which was always there regardless of the lineup. He also succeeded in getting more from players who had underperformed the years before. Hats off too to Orlando City’s front office and scouting department, which were extremely precise in identifying and bringing in the right players in 2020.

Joshua Taylor: I was very surprised how Oscar Pareja was able to get his team to buy in to believing that they can win no matter what. Despite their playoff run coming to an end, Pareja still accomplished a lot in his first year with the Lions. Changing the mentality of this team to play better, no matter the obstacle, was impressive to me. This team came close to winning the MLS is Back Tournament, had a shot at the Supporters’ Shield, and nearly finished with the most points in club history. I thought before the season the team would barely make the playoffs but this team clearly redefined expectations after its run in the MLS is Back Tournament. In what was a historic season for the Lions, you’d have to say Pareja got the best out of his team this year after making its first playoff appearance and now the Lions have hope and a bright future ahead of the 2021 season. 

Marcus Mitchell: The time off between the team’s first two matches of the season and the MLS is Back Tournament definitely helped Pareja instill the kind of mentality he wanted the players to have, as well as get the players up to the fitness level needed to run his style of play. Still, the Lions became a cohesive unit much more quickly than I expected and Pareja deserves plenty of praise for managing that in the midst of a pandemic. There weren’t too many new Lions on the roster, yet they looked like a new and exciting team under Pareja.

My Take: The staff covered this pretty well. Papi not only got the team to buy in to what he wanted them to do, but he did it more quickly than I thought possible. This team had a bond you don’t often see. They genuinely loved and supported one another like brothers and they held themselves as accountable as their teammates, so even if fans were freaking out if a starter wasn’t available, the players simply expected the same level of quality — and usually got it. Great job by Pareja.


Who was the team’s most valuable player in 2020 and why?

Dave: As much as I want to give this accolade to Mauricio Pereyra, I have to give the nod to Nani. I know that there are those still upset with his PK misses, and how he sometimes seems to ask for calls that just aren’t coming, but he was without a doubt the leader of this club. To a man, the rest of the players point to him as the example, and the inspiration for a lot of what happened this year. Despite his age and faults (we all deal with those), he often stepped up in the important moments and delivered. He also did a lot of instruction during matches, helping the players develop over the course of the season. It may well be I’ll have a different answer next season, but the captain wins it this year.  

Sean: Despite being sent off against New England, my MVP was Pereyra. He came in midsession last year but showed his quality this season and how he can affect the team. He draws attention in the final third and sets up opportunities for Mueller and Daryl Dike.

Topher: It’s easy to say Nani given how talented he is and how important he is from a leadership perspective, but I’m actually going with Pereyra. My biggest gripe with this team for years has been the inability to connect the defense to the offense. But with Pereyra, this team flows so much better. He’s had a Nico Lodeiro-esque influence on this team, picking up the ball deep and spurring counter-attacks while also being a calming presence in the final third. His vision is impeccable and his class with the ball is elite. Not since Kaká has this team had a legitimate number 10 and it has completely changed this team.

Ben: Pereyra. He brings so much creativity to the table on the offensive side of the ball, and Orlando is a completely different team when he isn’t on the field. It wasn’t a coincidence that the Lions struggled to score in the stretch of games that he was unavailable, and he was perhaps the worst person who could have been sent off in the Eastern Conference semifinals as it totally blunted the team’s attack (in addition to obviously going down a man). My second choice here would be Pedro Gallese, but Pereyra makes such a difference in the attack that I have to go with him. His ability to pick a pass like his game-winning assist to Dike against Montreal is something that no other player on the team is capable of doing, and that’s hugely important.

Daniel: I would have to say Nani. The captain led from the front and helped bring the side to new heights. Additionally, he instilled an air of confidence with his presence into the side — one that I’ve not yet seen in the team before. 

Guilherme: It has to be Mueller. Nani and Pereyra had great seasons too, but Cash had fantastic production with 10 goals and seven assists and his energy level helped him fulfill defensive duties the veterans weren’t required to. 

Joshua: Mueller really improved this season in his third year with the club. After fluctuating between starter and super sub the first two seasons, he earned Pareja’s trust and finished the year leading the team with 10 goals. He only had eight goals in his first two seasons, so having a breakout year in 2020 and getting a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team is worthy of being the team MVP this season. 

Marcus Mitchell: It’s weird not having a clear and obvious choice for this like past seasons. The team was well rounded from top to bottom and plenty of players stepped up when others were injured or playing internationally. That being said, I have to go with Nani. As proven in the MLS is Back Tournament, he has the ability to completely change the course of a game and make magic happen. Chris Mueller has made great strides, I’m just not sure if the team relies on him as much as it does on Nani.

My Take: I don’t think one needs to look any further than Orlando City’s record when Pereyra started to see who the team’s MVP was. The Uruguayan is vital to possession and turning nothing into a suddenly dangerous opportunity. Games without him were much more of a slog offensively.


Who was the team’s newcomer of the year?

Dave: This has to be Daryl Dike. He was utterly robbed of the now defunct Rookie of the Year award when MLS changed it to Young Player of the Year to make sure Dike didn’t win it (he still came in Top 3). The goals, the hold-up play, the improvement he showed from start to finish, and the excellent celebrations made this one surprisingly easy for me in a year with a lot of great performances.

Sean: I would have to have two players share Newcomer of the Year. Gallese was fantastic in goal this season. They wouldn’t have been the four seed in the East or advanced past New York City FC without him. Antonio Carlos is my other Newcomer of the Year. Orlando City has had trouble finding the right center back pairing but Carlos was fantastic alongside Jansson. Together, they turned a weakness into a strength.

Topher: Credit to Dike, who deserves a shout for this, but it has to be Carlos. The big Brazilian has improved this defense and has been a stable presence in the back. When Orlando gets expansive and pushes the fullbacks high and gets bodies forward, Carlos has been instrumental in stopping opposition counter attacks. In settled situations, his size and strength have been helpful in defending aerial balls into the box. Perhaps equally valuable is his ability on the ball. His passing and deceptive skill played an important role in Orlando being able to play out from the back and holding onto possession. He’s been one of the best center backs in all of MLS and I’m so excited to see him grow with this core in the foreseeable future.

Ben: There are several good choices here, and while I’m tempted to say Junior Urso or Gallese, I’m going to go with Dike. While he was the fifth overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft, I don’t think anyone expected him to have the kind of year he did. After Dwyer was lost for the season due to surgery it was anyone’s guess as to where goals and consistent striker play would come from, but Dike answered that question emphatically. With Gallese being Peru’s starting keeper I sort of expected him to have a great year, but Dike’s performance caught me off guard which is why I have to go with him. 

Daniel: It has to be Dike. The big man has been tremendous since abruptly bursting onto the scene. 

Guilherme: Gallese. Orlando City got it right with a lot of the signings the team made this year, but nothing beats the Peruvian. Gallese is a starter for the Peruvian national team and brought a great amount of international experience to the team, besides solving what seemed to be a never-ending problem for the Lions between the sticks.

Joshua: Urso made a big improvement to the midfield since he transferred from Corinthians back in January. He was able to bring leadership to a young squad, solidifying the midfield with Pereyra, and bringing that energy and passion on the field. Urso scored a few clutch goals for the Lions this year and helping the team beat rival Atlanta United has to make this season feel much better.  

Marcus: While Gallese was impressive, I’m going with Carlos. He started 18 games in the regular season and formed a strong bond with Jansson to anchor the defense. Carlos was a force in the air and displayed skill when it came to timing tackles in dangerous areas. He had a goal and an assist as well and gave a glimpse of what’s to come in the future.

My Take: There were lots of good choices here. I thought about this for a while and what it came down to for me was this: which of the new players’ absences scared me the most? It was Gallese. It felt less risky when El Pulpo was between the sticks than when any of the other new players were missing. Dike was a close second, followed by Carlos. I thought Schlegel was a great fill-in for either center back, so Carlos being out didn’t scare me as much.


Which player surprised you the most in 2020?

Dave: Kyle Smith does not get enough credit in my opinion. He was Pareja’s Swiss Army tool. Left back, right back, or midfield, it didn’t matter. Sometimes it was more than one position within a match! He gave as much effort as anyone on the pitch, and at times he had to replace either Ruan or Joao Moutinho. That is not an easy thing to do since he’s not as fast as either of them, and yet there wasn’t a giant drop-off with him there. He had several key defensive plays through the year and even got Man of the Match honors in Orlando City’s 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls from The Mane Land, and both Michael and I on The Mane Land PawedCast

Sean: I was most surprised this season by Dike. He was very good at Virginia but I didn’t think he’d be this good this early in his career. He knows how to use his big frame and does so very well. It usually takes time for players to learn that skill but he picked it up right away.

Topher: Smith has blown me away this season. He wasn’t an elite player by any stretch of the imagination, but he was way better than I ever expected. Last season, Smith was one of my least favorite players on the entire team. Everything about him screamed minor leaguer and I didn’t think he should’ve been playing at this level. However, he has completely changed my mind. This guy was an absolute team player, doing anything and everything asked of him, playing on both flanks, playing heavy minutes when Moutinho got injured, and he was a vital piece down the stretch. He’s still not a great MLS player, but he has 100% deserved a spot in this team. He’s more of a defensive option than Moutinho or Ruan, but his offensive ability has improved even if it’s still not that great. Every team in MLS needs a few players who are tough and versatile, and Smith is that guy for Orlando.

Ben: Andres Perea surprised me the most. Sure he had logged 14 appearances with Atletico Nacional before joining the Lions, but with Pereyra, Uri Rosell, Sebas Mendez, and Urso all ahead of him in midfield I didn’t see how he fit into the picture. Well, he logged 1,190 minutes across 23 regular season games, notched two assists, and played in both playoff games so he fit in pretty damn nicely. He usually displayed a large amount of poise on the ball and more often than not was a calming presence in the midfield. I didn’t see this coming at all, and I’m glad that he was brought in on a permanent basis.

Daniel: Definitely Pereyra. The way the Uruguayan established himself as a potent creative threat so quickly was incredible and surprised me greatly. It’s good news that the club signed the DP to a contract extension. Let’s hope he can continue this seasons success next time around. 

Guilherme: Dike. Anyone saying they expected the rookie striker to bag eight goals in his first professional season and make Dwyer completely expendable would be lying. Dike’s physical and technical tools were there for anyone to see, but between having the tools and using them properly in a rookie season there’s a considerable difference. Perea was a close second. I didn’t expect to see him having such a prominent role with the team this season.

Joshua: Dike really surprised me this season. Even though we only saw him in limited action in the MLS is Back Tournament during the round of 16 match against the Montreal Impact in July, a month later he made two goal contributions for the Lions against Inter Miami CF, and days later against Nashville SC, he scored his first brace for the team. Dike became the first Orlando City rookie to score in each of his first two professional starts. I figured being his first year in the league it would take him time to develop but to end the year with eight goals, be a finalist for the MLS Young Player of the Year Award, and getting a call-up to the USMNT definitely shows how quickly Dike has developed in his first year with the Lions. 

Marcus: It has to be Mueller, who broke through what I thought was his ceiling and kept going. He obviously benefits from great attacking players around him, but the team wasn’t too different from last season and he managed career highs in goals and assists during a shortened season. Center back Rodrigo Schlegel also deserves some recognition here, and not just for those heroics in goal. Schlegel did well in 10 regular season appearances and gave the Lions needed depth on defense when required. 

My Take: I have to agree with Marcus about Mueller. I thought Cash was fairly close to his ceiling but he found a new gear in 2020. However, for me, an even bigger surprise was Perea. That felt like a depth signing to me and yet he played in every regular season and playoff game for Orlando City this season. Part of that was due to other players’ absences, but it was mainly due to his versatility. He played the 6, the 8, and even some attacking midfield. Now, if he can just figure out where the net is…


What is the position group that needs the most improvement heading into 2021?

Dave: The forwards are the position of need. Daryl Dike came on strong and I anticipate he will continue to grow — skill-wise, obviously, because if he gets any bigger physically, MLS defenders will be in a lot of trouble. I look for the front office to bring in a more veteran striker to replace Dwyer, in addition to integrating Matheus Aias and Alexader Alvarado. With Nani, Pereyra, Mueller, Ruan, and Moutinho all able to deliver balls into the box, the Lions need some strikers to put the ball into the net. 

Sean: The position group needing the most work is up top. Most of Orlando City’s attack comes from the midfield. It was a tough year for Tesho Akindele and Dom Dwyer (due to injury), putting most of the responsibility on a rookie. The team needs better production up there so that Mueller and Nani can create out of the midfield.

Topher: I’ve written about how good this midfield is, but after the last few games of the season, I think they need a little more. Pereyra has been great when healthy and Urso is an excellent player, but outside of that I’m not completely convinced. Rosell had great moments when he was healthy, but after coming back he was no longer that guy. If this team is to have sustained success, they need that third midfield option to be consistently good. A lot of that could be solved if Perea and Mendez continue to develop into the stars they’re capable of becoming. Joey DeZart could be an option there, and it’s possible that Rosell gets back to his MLS is Back form. It’s also important to note that both Perea and Mendez could miss significant time next season due to international duty, with Olympic qualifying potentially affecting Perea, either for Colombia or the U.S., while Mendez will likely miss time for the Copa America. It’ll be important for the Lions to sure up their depth, either from within or in the transfer market, to make sure their trio is able to control the game all season.

Ben: Striker. Dike’s emergence was welcome, but there doesn’t seem to be a reliable goal-scoring threat at that position aside from him. Maybe Mueller has another 10-goal year and helps lighten the load, but that isn’t necessarily a guarantee. Benji Michel usually seems to have a goal in him, but like Mueller and Nani he seems to do a lot of his best work when deployed in wide areas. I like Akindele but his 10-goal season last year looks to have been the exception rather than the rule. The Lions probably need to bring in a striker who’s capable of getting seven to eight goals if they want to improve on this season.

Daniel: I would probably say up front. I personally believe the side could use a new striker, especially with Dwyer entering free agency. The midfield and defense are solid enough as of now, so I’d say the forward area could use some beefing up and improvement. It’s not fair to rely on such a young player like Dike week in and out and could actually negatively impact him in the long run. 

Guilherme: I think Orlando enters this off-season in a good position — at least much better than the years before. The Lions don’t have a clear and obvious need, but could certainly use some depth in certain areas of the field. Bringing in a veteran, established striker to compete with Dike up top is a no-brainer, but outside of that, I’d say another winger and a defender, who could be either a center back or a left back due to Kamal Miller’s versatility.

Joshua: The forward position. One area of concern for the Lions this past season was shots on target where the team had 118 total shots on target for the season and averaged 4.1 per game which ranked 18th in MLS. There were times where Orlando dominated possession but was not able to apply the finishing blow in crucial matches. Nani, Mueller, and Dike carried the bulk of goals this year but the team may be one more striker away to put it over the top and bring the MLS Cup to Orlando. 

Marcus: I’m not worried about the attack, especially once Matheus Aias fits in. The fullbacks have me a little concerned, but that hinges more on Moutinho’s health more than anything and Smith really proved his worth this year. If I had to pick a group, it would be the defensive midfielders. Urso had the second most minutes on the team and was great in his first year in Orlando, but the team looked understandably weaker when Mendez was in Ecuador and Rosell was nursing an injury. Rookie DeZart did well but some added depth or consistency on that part of the roster would be nice.

My Take: Surprisingly, I’m not going to say forward. I do think it would be a good idea to add either a veteran willing to take a reduced bench/spot start role or a DP type a la Carlos Vela, Diego Valeri, Josef Martinez, etc. I don’t agree with Marcus about the defensive midfield. I think the team is set in that area but it would be helpful if the pieces all stay healthy. That area was hit hard at times in 2020. I’m going with attacking midfield/wing. The Lions played guys like Robinho and Perea in those roles this year when having to rotate the squad and the drop in attacking quality was noticeable. A serviceable backup for Pereyra is especially important because he’s not getting any younger and he’s already dealt with some injury issues in his season and a half in Orlando.


Which players do you expect to see the most improvement from in 2021?

Dave: Aias and Alexander Alvarado are the easy choices, as they haven’t really had enough time to integrate into the club. I think we will continue to see improvement from Perea and Kamal Miller as well. Honestly, I think we’ll see improvement from nearly all the players in that the cohesion we saw this year will be even better in 2021. 

Sean: The most improvement in 2021 will hopefully come from Dike. Dwyer is gone and Akindele doesn’t seem to be the answer. Dike is young and has the ability to improve. If his finishing is better next year, he could become an unstoppable force in the league.

Topher: I expect to see several young players to make big strides in 2021. Pareja has a track record from Dallas and even Colorado developing young talent, and I expect that to continue taking shape over the course of next season. Dike had a strong start to his career, but with another offseason and more experience, he’s going to get even better. Michel is another player who grew a lot in 2020, but he might take another big step forward. Who I’m really excited to see and think will make serious strides are the academy players. Jordan Bender, David Loera, and Michael Halliday are all relatively unknown commodities, but with an off-season spent training in the first team, and more experience as professionals, they could start to really break into the team and make serious contributions. Of that three, I’d expect Bender to really make some noise. He started against Nashville in the final game of the regular season, and showed promise. The odds of him starting regularly over Nani or Mueller are unlikely, but he’s got a real shot to become a valuable bench option who can give needed rest to an aging Nani or for Mueller if he’s on international duty.

Ben: I fully expect Dike to improve quite a lot on what we saw this year. He seemed to wear down a bit after earning the right to start consistently, and that’s understandable in his first year as a professional. He now has a better idea of what it takes to consistently succeed in MLS from a physical standpoint, and he’ll have a whole off-season to work on developing both his body and his skills. If he’s able to continue to improve in terms of his first touch, decision-making, and finishing ability, then I think he’ll have a great year in 2021 and I fully expect those things to happen. I also think Perea will be better and play a bigger part next year after having time to put some muscle on a frame that leans toward being a little slight. Both he and Dike are so young that I think they have a lot of room to grow, and I think they’ll do just that. 

Daniel: Mueller. He just seems to get better and better every season. The 24-year-old deserved the national team call-up he received and it seems like the sky is the limit for him. Mueller has all of the physical attributes to be a top-class player in the future. He just has to work on his decision-making and end product, which may come with age.

Guilherme: I hope we some improvement from Dike. Orlando could certainly benefit from that. He can do a lot better from a technical standpoint and if he can add that to his athleticism, it would be huge. I believe Alvarado is a good bet too. He played in only 50 minutes this season and with a preseason under his belt, he should be in position to live up to the expectations the club has for him.

Joshua: Michel is a player I could see improving for next season. Like Mueller in his third season this year, I can see Michel having a breakout year next season and he could get double digit goals. Michel scored his penalty kick in round one in the 2020 MLS Cup playoffs, scored a game-winning goal against the Columbus Crew to clinch a home playoff game, and has already scored 12 goals in all competitions since joining the club in 2019. 

Marcus: It’s a toss up between Akindele and Michel for me. Both seem to fit in well with how Pareja wants the team to play. More teams will have their eyes on Mueller and Dike next season, which may open the door for Akindele and Michel to find some openings. Although they are in different stages of their careers, both are fighting for minutes as forwards in a lucrative Orlando offense. 

My Take: Perea is a guy I’d most expect to see get even better in 2021. At just 20 years old, I think he’s still got a ton of upside. Alvarado is a guy I find intriguing and his brief appearances at the end of the season left me wanting to see more. As for Dike, I am always cognizant of the sophomore slump and teams getting a better handle on how to defend him. If the big fella can avoid that and improve on his game, it will be huge for Orlando next season.


And there you have it. Our staff — most of it, anyway — sums up the 2020 season that was. It was a better one than we expected and yet it still somehow left us wanting more. As I always say, only one team’s fans get to be happy at the end of the year. And now there is at least some hope that Orlando’s fans could be those lucky ones in the near future.

Feel free to weigh in on these questions below in the comments section.

Orlando City

Orlando City’s Focus On Youth Development Showing In The First Team

Orlando City is seeing more and more players promoted from the academy, through OCB, and into the first team.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City began its academy in the USL Pro days with the goal of developing players for the first team. It took nearly a decade to begin seeing youth development bear fruit, but it’s becoming apparent early in the 2025 season.

Prior to 2019, Orlando City signed four players to Homegrown Player contracts. Tommy Redding, Tyler Turner, and Harrison Heath never played in the academy and the other, Mason Stajduhar, developed primarily at Chargers Soccer Club in Tampa.

Orlando City signed arguably its first true Homegrown Player when the club inked Benji Michel to a first-team contract. The following off-season, the Lions added David Loera and Jordan Bender. Mikey Halliday signed in July 2020. All of the players came through the academy before signing first-team deals. 

So what changed?

Part of it was the growth of the academy. It takes several years to begin producing players. Another major factor was the hiring of Luiz Muzzi on Dec. 18, 2019. Muzzi came from FC Dallas, a club known for promoting from its academy. He brought in Ricardo Moreira, who shares his vision of developing young talent for the first team.

And it’s not only Muzzi and Moreira. Former Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath rarely attended OCB games. James O’Connor only went to one, and that was to see his former teammate, Dennis Chin, who was playing with the opposing Richmond Kickers. The Orlando City boss left when Chin came off.

Oscar Pareja and other first-team coaches have been at several games, far more than their predecessors. That’s largely to do with the games’ location at the training facility, which is another factor in OCB’s development. The 2019 team trained over 40 miles away from the first team. The move to Kissimmee has the first team, OCB, and the development academy under one roof. It’s another display of the club’s more recent commitment to youth development.

Undoubtedly, the transformation of OCB under Muzzi and Moreira has also impacted Homegrown talent coming through. The team’s 2016 and 2017 rosters were primarily made up of first-team reserves and USL lifers. The 2019 team had many players from the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA), many of which were young but ineligible for Homegrown status.

Things began to change in 2020. The roster shifted to include more academy players and that’s only grown. This year, 15 OCB players came out of the academy, two were drafted, and eight are outside signings on MLS NEXT Pro deals. Other than Jhon Solis and first-team goalkeeper Carlos Mercado, everyone to appear for the team is 23 years old or younger.

The focus on giving OCB spots to academy graduates is now seen in the first team. Players like Thomas Williams, Javier Otero, Alex Freeman, Colin Guske, and Gustavo Caraballo have been regulars on the MLS team sheet. Injuries to first-team regulars has seen them receiving regular playing time.

The poster boy for this change is Freeman. The right back came out of the academy and spent a couple of years at OCB before signing his first-team contract. He won the starting role early in the 2025 regular season.

Many players joined the club later in their development, but we’re seeing some come through having been nearly fully developed at the Orlando City Academy. Guske and Caraballo joined at 13 years old, the youngest age group of the development academy. Both signed first-team deals for this year.

The midfield duo continue to play with OCB most games but are also on the first-team roster almost weekly. The only reason they weren’t in Montreal Saturday night is because they were helping the club’s U-18 team reach (and then win) the Generation Adidas Cup final.

With Muzzi and Moreira at the helm, more players continue to come through. U-18 captain and OCB starter Jackson Platts appears to be well on his way to a first-team contract. So does fellow U-18 and OCB starting forward Justin Ellis.

This past weekend saw another academy product make his first-team debut. Zakaria Taifi took over at right back for OCB when Freeman moved up to the first team this year. Signing a short-term deal Saturday, he came on as a late substitute to help the 10-man Lions see out the scoreless draw.

First-team absences have provided opportunities for many young players. If several weren’t at the Generation Adidas Cup, it could be more. Regardless, the last few years have shown a big step forward for the club.

The shift in recent years is more than the pride of seeing local kids representing the hometown team. They’ve been an essential part of the 2025 campaign. The club hasn’t had to use a short bench or dip into outside emergency signings. Instead, the Lions call up kids they know, making it easier to seamlessly place them into the team.

There will be times where several injuries will occur to experienced players. Orlando City is prepared for this more now than ever before, and it’s because of the players coming through the academy and playing with OCB. We’re already seeing it early in this 2025 season.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/21/25

Another scoreless draw for Orlando City, a home loss for the Pride, a championship for the OCSC U-18 squad, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you all had a great holiday weekend with family and friends. I managed to watch a few soccer games while work kept me busy. Our Lions picked up another draw for the third week in a row, the Pride lost, and OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Draw CF Montreal on the Road

Orlando City and CF Montreal split the points in a scoreless draw at Stade Saputo on Saturday. It’s the third consecutive week that the Lions could not get a win with another scoreless draw. It’s the second straight match that Orlando had to play down a man as Rafael Santos was sent off in the second half after receiving a second yellow card. Still, the Lions extended their unbeaten run to six matches and are seventh in the Eastern Conference table with 13 points. After the match, Major League Soccer issued a statement after being informed a fan used discriminatory language towards a player during the match.

Orlando City will return to Inter&Co Stadium Saturday to take on Atlanta United.

Orlando City Signs Two Players to Short-Term Deals

Before Saturday’s match against CF Montreal, Orlando City announced the club had signed defender Zakaria Taifi and midfielder Riyon Tori to short-term contracts. Both players were on the bench for Saturday’s match. Tori did not play, but Taifi came off the bench late in the second half to make his MLS debut. Tori has played with OCB and has made three appearances. Taifi has made 42 appearances, starting 21 matches for OCB, scoring one goal and adding three assists.

Orlando City Signs Four Assistant Coaches to New Contracts

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has renewed the contracts of First Assistant Coach Diego Torres, Second Assistant Coach Martin Perelman, Goalkeeper Coach Cesar Baena, and Fitness & Performance Coach Fabian Bazan. This news comes just days after the club announced that Head Coach Oscar Pareja will remain with the Lions under a new three-year contract through the 2028 MLS season. Together, the coaching staff has played a key part in the recent success of the Lions over the last five seasons, making five consecutive MLS Playoff appearances, two appearances in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Lions also set club records for wins and points, scoring 308 goals across all competitions with a plus-44 goal differential in 202 competitive matches.

Pride Fall to Washington Spirit at Home

The Orlando Pride fell to the Washington Spirit 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Saturday to suffer their first loss of the season. The Pride dominated most of the match, but in the 63rd minute, Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse gave the ball away in front of the goal, and Gift Monday capitalized to score the winning goal for the Spirit. Late in the second half, it looked like the Pride had scored the equalizer; however, after video review, it was determined that Kylie Nadaner backed into Aubrey Kingsbury on the play, impeding the goalkeeper from catching the ball, and the tying goal was waved off. With the Kansas City Current’s win over the Houston Dash over the weekend, Orlando drops to second in the NWSL table. The Pride will return to action Friday at Inter&Co Stadium to face Angel City FC.

Orlando City U-18 Team Wins Generation Adidas Cup Championship

The Orlando City U-18 and U-16 squads played over the weekend in playoff matches in the Generation Adidas Cup at IMG Academy. In the quarterfinals on Friday, Omar Robbana scored the lone goal in the U-18 squad’s 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake.

The U-18 squad followed that up by defeating Santos Laguna 3-0 in the semifinals. Justin Ellis scored twice and Gustavo Caraballo added a goal.

On Sunday, Caraballo scored the winning goal in extra time to seal a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the U-18 Championship final.

On Friday, the U-16 team defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in the quarterfinals.

The U-16 squad defeated the New England Revolution 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw in the semifinals on Saturday.

The U-16 squad’s run for a championship trophy came to an end with a 3-1 loss to Inter Miami in the U-16 Championship final on Sunday.

Free Kicks


That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. CF Montreal: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 0-0 road draw against CF Montreal?

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City played its first international road match of the 2025 season as the Lions faced off against CF Montreal in the club’s third-longest road trip by distance (approx. 1,432 miles). For the third straight week, Orlando boasted a clean sheet, but after facing the bottom dwellers of the Eastern Conference, the Lions were only able to bring one point back to the Sunshine State following a 0-0 draw. In a match without much flow and produced another 10-man finish for OCSC, Orlando appeared to play without much gusto.

Let’s look at the Lions’ individual performances to see who made the grade and who can improve heading into the final match of April.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 7.5 (MotM) — Gallese stood tall against extended pressure for much of the match against CF Montreal. Facing a desperate squad that had only scored four goals on the season, Montreal looked for multiple breakthrough moments, which El Pulpo was able to sniff out. His distribution left a bit to be desired, as he had a 68.6% passing rate on his 35 attempts while completing 13 of his 24 long balls. He racked up six total saves on the night and showcased quick reactions in the first half on a Dante Sealy attempt, and in the second half he was able to parry away a Caden Clark shot that likely was destined for the back of the net. The end result now marks three straight clean sheets for the Peruvian No. 1.

D, Kyle Smith, 5 — With the suspension of Rodrigo Schlegel, Head Coach Oscar Pareja elected to bring Kyle Smith into the starting lineup at left back and shift David Brekalo to center back. Smith picked up a careless early yellow card early, which likely played a much bigger role in the outcome of the match than met the eye at the time of infringement. He was substituted off at halftime for Rafael Santos in a move designed to protect against picking up that second yellow…the move backfired as Orlando was not destined to finish the match with 11 men and Santos was the player picking up two yellows for aggressive fouls. In 45 minutes of action, Smith touched the ball 31 times and completed 87.5% of his 24 passes but failed to complete either of his two long-ball attempts. Prior to being pulled from the match, Smith recorded one tackle, one interception, and a clearance on the defensive side of the field.

D, David Brekalo, 7.5 — Brekalo was channeling his inner Schlehgel as he played the primary antagonist role to Prince Owusu throughout the match, getting under the forward’s skin and having to be separated from the German-born striker multiple times throughout the match. He logged 60 touches, completed 83.3% of his 48 passes, and completed two of his four long-ball attempts. To speak to the frustrating role that Brekalo played throughout the match, he was fouled a team-high four times while committing only one. Defensively, he added one tackle, three clearances, and blocked a shot. This now marks three straight full match appearances for Brekalo, which is a reassuring sign as the Slovenian has had issues in the injury department during his young tenure in Orlando. With Santos out next Saturday and Schlegel returning, I expect him to slot back into the starting left-back role against Atlanta.

D, Robin Jansson, 7 — The captain put in a solid effort in the middle of the back line, often functioning as the final safety valve to snuff out the “high-flying” Montreal attack. His body took the toll late in the match as American Caden Clark lowered his shoulder into the chest of the Beefy Sweede during an aerial challenge in front of Gallese. Jansson got back to his feet and was able to see out the match. He logged a team-high 70 touches and completed 80.3% of his team-high 61 passes and six of his 12 long-ball attempts, mirroring Brekalo’s 50% success rate in attempting to unlock the Orlando City attack over the top. Defensively, Jansson recorded two interceptions and a team-high five clearances. If I had one knock on his effort against Montreal, it’s that there were a few careless giveaways when facing the high press of the home squad, which luckily for Orlando City never amounted to much in terms of goal-scoring chances.

D, Alex Freeman, 6 — Freeman had a mostly quiet match against CF Montreal, but settled in throughout the match after being exposed on the outside early by Dante Sealy. He touched the ball 43 times and completed 81.5% of his 27 passes. He logged one key pass and was unsuccessful on all three of his long balls. Freeman did not attempt any crosses against Montreal. Defensively, the young Lion contributed one tackle and two clearances. Offensively, Freeman managed one shot, which was off target. As the offense has ground to a complete halt, there appears to be a clear need for Freeman and Marco Pasalic to regain their chemistry and how they run off of one another down the right side of the field.

MF, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, 5.5 — Thorhallsson reprised his role in the midfield, filling in for Edward Atuesta. I thought after a strong outing last week by Thorhallsson and Joran Gerbet, this week’s match told a different tale, as Orlando struggled to maintain possession and allowed Montreal to control the middle of the pitch. Thorhallsson touched the ball 42 times and completed 87.9% of his 33 passes. Offensively, Thorhallsson did not record a meaningful statistic, and on the defensive side, he tied Gerbet with a team-high four tackles while also contributing two clearances and one blocked shot.

MF, Joran Gerbet, 6.5 — Gerbet, like his counterpart, is getting an extended run in the starting 11, which will hopefully pay off dividends as the season progresses. I thought Gerbet was the more effective of the defensive pivot duo, hence the 0.5 bump on his player grade compared to Dagur Dan. Gerbet logged 53 touches and completed 93.9% of his 33 passes. He logged one shot, which was off target, and he did his best impression of Araujo by suffering three fouls. He tied for the team high in tackles with four and logged an interception, two clearances, and a blocked shot. The part of his game that needs improvement is the next-level vision when it comes to his passing ability, a skill which will hopefully continue to develop throughout the season.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6.5 — Angulo has now turned in back-to-back solid efforts, which is a massive improvement from where his form was just three to four weeks ago. His hustle hasn’t translated into goals yet, but he was the lone offensive piece who played with any type of edge against Montreal. He touched the ball 50 times and completed 82.4% of his 34 passes. He was unsuccessful on his two crosses, completed one of two long balls, and added two key passes. Offensively, he put one of his two shots on target and did well to track back on defense when Montreal looked to get out on the break, contributing two tackles.

MF, Martin Ojeda, 6 — Ojeda did a lot of little things right but failed to unlock the offense in any meaningful way and was not individually threatening offensively. He logged 47 touches and completed a team-best, 95.2% of his 42 passes. He tied Angulo for the team lead with two key passes and completed three of his four long-ball attempts. Defensively, he logged one clearance, and as mentioned above, offensively did not do much to strike fear into the Canadian club, failing to record a shot attempt. Ojeda was whistled for a team-high two offside infractions and seemed to express moments of frustration where it appeared that he was not on the same page as his teammates.

MF, Marco Pasalic, 6 — The early Major League Soccer season has seemed to be all feast or famine for Pasalic, as he opened the season with a brace, failed to score against Toronto and New York City FC, then found the back of the net against the Red Bulls and D.C. United, and is now sporting a four-game drought in the goal-scoring department. It seems like the beginning of his tenure in MLS is progressing the way that many who come from overseas often do, with multiple adjustments needing to be made to gain comfort. Against Montreal, Pasalic touched the ball 40 times and completed a team-worst 58.3% of his 24 passes. Defensively, Pasalic contributed one clearance. Offensively, in 73 minutes of action, Pasalic still led the squad with three shot attempts but only managed to put one on target. I enjoyed seeing him cut the ball back outside and force a tight-angle shot with his right foot, as it is important to sprinkle in some attempts with the right to keep the defenders honest. Hopefully, a return to the friendly confines of Central Florida will help wash away his offensive drought next week against Atlanta.

F, Luis Muriel, 5.5 — Muriel, like many of his offensive counterparts, appeared to be just ever so slightly off in his timing and positioning, failing to either send in the correct pass or to get onto the end of things in a timely manner. He touched the ball 50 times and completed 69.7% of his 33 passes, which included one key pass. He was unsuccessful on all three of his crossing attempts. Offensively, he managed two shots, which both were off target. The statistics here don’t tell the whole story, as Muriel did not miss by much on one of his attempts, making a perfect delayed run into the box and running onto the end of a brilliant ball that was cut back into the middle of the danger area from the end line. Additionally, for what it’s worth, Muriel also likely earned a penalty kick which was neither called nor reviewed…PRO refs are going to PRO. Defensively, he contributed one clearance.

Substitutes

D, Rafael Santos (46′), 4.5 — I certainly wish I could avoid giving Santos a grade as his dreadful start to the season continued. He was the substitute who was supposed to protect Smith from picking up his second yellow…only to turn around and pick up two yellow cards in 16 minutes. Santos exited the match and forced Orlando to play with 10 men for the final 15 minutes of the game, plus stoppage time. He recorded 18 touches and completed 33.3% of his nine passes. Santos logged two tackles and one interception on defense, but it is his sending off that will be remembered from this match.

F, Duncan McGuire (73′), 5.5 — I thought we might see more of McGuire in this game than we did, but at the same time, the flow of the game took McGuire’s legs out from under him as Santos’ red card came three minutes after the American striker had entered. McGuire was only on the ball eight times and completed 33.3% of six total passes. He likely did far more defending than he planned on, with Montreal attacking to try to earn the win after securing the man advantage. He logged one clearance on defense.

D, Thomas Williams (80′), N/A — Williams made his 2025 season debut in the 80th minute, replacing Muriel as Pareja looked to solidify the defense and at least escape the Great White North with a draw. He played well enough over the final 10 and was not caught out of position while contributing a tackle, one interception, and three clearances.

D, Zakaria Taifi (85′), N/A — Taifi also made his season (and MLS) debut, recording four touches and one clearance, helping see out the match


That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s latest scoreless draw. Let us know how you saw the game in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match.

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